Nov. 15, 2012

BIG EAST Release | BIG EAST Championship Home 

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MILWAUKEE - Seniors Danielle Carlson and Holly Mertens, along with junior Elizabeth Koberstein, of the Marquette University women’s volleyball team were named to the All-BIG EAST First Team, the league announced Thursday evening at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center.

Mertens was one of just three unanimous first team selections, along with conference player of the year Lola Arslankekova of Louisville and Cincinnati’s Jordanne Scott.

It is the first career postseason all-conference honor for Mertens and Koberstein, while Carlson also earned first team recognition in 2011.

Mertens, who owns a team-best 3.36 kills per set average, accelerated her play in the second half of the season, posting a 3.93 kills per set and a league-best .414 (228-59-411) hitting percentage against BIG EAST opponents. The right-side hitter finished the campaign fifth in the conference with an average of 3.76 points per set. Mertens was named the BIG EAST Player of the Week (Oct. 1 and Nov. 5) on two occasions this season.

Carlson has been one of Marquette's most consistent offensive threats throughout her career, boasting a conference-best .385 (309-40-698) hitting percentage at middle hitter. The Marshfield, Wis., native currently ranks first in hitting percentage (.353) on MU's all-time list and recently became the 12th player in program history to join the 1,000-kill club, when she slammed home the match-ending kill on Nov. 11 against Notre Dame.

Koberstein has quickly established herself as one of the premier setters in the nation during her first season with the Golden Eagles. The Madison, Wis., native leads the BIG EAST and ranks 10th nationally with an 11.67 assist per set average. Koberstein's play at setter has led Marquette to a conference-best team hitting percentage of .280, including a mark of .292 in BIG EAST play. 

The trio has help lead Marquette to a 24-5 overall mark this season, which includes a program-record 13 BIG EAST Conference victories. The Golden Eagles earned a No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, and will face the seventh-seeded Pittsburgh Panthers in the quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. 

2012 BIG EAST CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL AWARDS 

BIG EAST Player of the Year
Lola Arslanbekova, Louisville, Sr., OH 

BIG EAST Libero of the Year
Alyssa Warren, Seton Hall, Jr. 

BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Erin Fairs, USF, OH 

BIG EAST Coaches of the Year
Anne Kordes, Louisville
Holly Strauss-O’Brien, Connecticut 

2012 All-BIG EAST VOLLEYBALL TEAM

First Team
Toni Alugbue, Notre Dame, So., MB
Lola Arslanbekova, Louisville, Sr., OH *
Danielle Carlson, Marquette, Sr., MH
Jeni Houser, Notre Dame, So., RS
Elizabeth Koberstein, Marquette, Jr., S
Shelbey Manthorpe, Seton Hall, So., S
Holly Mertens, Marquette, Sr., RS *
Karin Palgutova, St. John’s, Fr., OH
Mattison Quayle, Connecticut, Sr., OH
Gwen Rucker, Louisville, Sr., MH
Jordanne Scott, Cincinnati, Sr., MB/RS *
Kayla Walton, USF, Jr., RS

 * - unanimous selection

Second Team
Maggie Brindock, Notre Dame, Jr., S
Erin Fairs, USF, Fr., OH
Emily Hayden, Cincinnati, Sr., MB/RS
Emily MacIntyre, Cincinnati, Jr., DS
Stacey Manthorpe, Seton Hall, So., OH/OPP
Brooke Mattingly, Louisville, Jr., MB
Becca Refenes, Cincinnati, Sr., MB
Silvi Uattara, Syracuse, Fr., OH
Alyssa Warren, Seton Hall, Jr., L
Caitlin Welch, Louisville, Jr., DS
Dani White, Georgetown, So., MB
Monica Wignot, Pittsburgh, Jr., OH
Vesela Zapryanova, DePaul, Jr., OH

(extra player because of tie-breaker)

Marquette Golden Eagles Women's Volleyball

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